Due to loss of water pressure during the installation of water main valves and a new hydrant, the city of St. Robert has issued a boil advisory on July 22, 2008 for the following areas: All residences and businesses located on St. Robert Blvd., Carmel Valley Way, Brian Circle, Godfrey Lane, Highgrove Lane, Hemphill Rd. and portion of Y HWY from St. Robert Blvd. to Liberty St. We are advised to boil tap water for at least 3 mins. before consumption or use bottled water. Note this is a boil advisory not a boil order.

News ReleaseRecovery of Stolen VehiclePulaski County Sheriff j. B. KingJuly 21, 2008Shortly before 4:00pm on July 20, 2008, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was notified by a concerned citizen that there was a vehicle sunk in the Gasconade River near the Riddle Bridge Access. The responding Deputy was able to obtain the license plate number and the vehicle was determined to have been stolen in Crocker, Missouri, during the month of March 2008. The vehicle was owned by the Waynesville Memorial Chapel in Waynesville, Missouri, at the time of the theft.With the assistance of a scuba diver a cable was attached to the vehicle and it was removed from the river. The vehicle was taken to Jacks Wrecker Service in St. Robert, Missouri. Additional information on the theft and the filing of charges may be obtained from the Crocker City Police Department.

News ReleaseArrest: Forcible rape & Armed Criminal ActionPulaski County Sheriff J. B. KingJuly 21, 2008Shortly before 4:00am on July 20, 2008, the Waynesville City Police notified the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department that one of their Officers was in contact with a 21 year old female who stated she had been forcibly raped at a location in rural Pulaski County. Members of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Detective unit were called out to investigate this crime.The investigation took most of the day on 7-20-08 and ended with the service of a search warrant at the suspect’s residence on Sunday evening. Items of interest in the case were recovered including a firearm.At this time the suspect, David Hall Lee, age 59, of 25968 Hwy. H, Waynesville, Mo. has been charged with forcible rape, armed criminal action, forcible sodomy and felonious restraint. His bond was set at $100,000.00 cash only. Mr. Lee is being held in the Pulaski County jail pending the posting of bond.Due to the circumstances of this crime, including the use of a firearm, the identity of the victim will not be released by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. The charges filed on David Lee are mere accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty it is to determine guilt of innocence.

Roberts said he was an aggressive sheriff and was finding 80 to 115 meth labs per year. Fighting drugs leads to fighting other crime, he said, since many burglaries are drug-related.

“Right now the budget for the county, from the paper and from what J.B. says, he is so short-funded and short-manned. The crime rate is so high. What’s your alternative plan for that?” French asked.Roberts said his past service as sheriff gives him what he needs to do the job.“Based on my experience and all, I can go right into the job and go to work,” Roberts said. “I had 11 deputies. According to J.B.’s own article, he has 31. The largest budget I ever had was $800,000 and his is $1.6 million now. As far as I can see, there are some areas I can make some reductions without hurting the service to the community and I can work within the budget that the commission allows me.”

WASHINGTON - In a vulgar tirade caught on tape by Fox News, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said he wanted to "cut his [Barack Obama's] nuts out" and he accused the fellow Chicagoan of "talking down to black folks" by giving moral lectures to African-Americans, source said Jackson's shocking quotes were picked up by a hot mic before an interview on health care in Fox's Chicago studio last Sunday

The year is rapidly progressing and there are events and questions we thought would be of interest to you, the taxpayer. First of all, I am pleased to report that our collection rate has continued to improve; we have collected approximately 97 percent of the delinquent taxes owed to our county. Throughout the year we have streamlined our office’s ability to serve the county and its taxpayers by implementing numerous changes and updates in office procedures and equipment, and we believe these changes have assisted us in this high collection rate. Changes include the following: creating the web site (www.pulaskicollector.com); opening a third window at the counter; using the personal property receipt as proof of payment; installing Merchant’s License software; and most recently, installing a land tax sale software program. This most recent addition will provide tax sale participants greater efficiency in service and sale documentation.In our effort to eliminate errors and fraud, we started using the computer-generated personal property receipt as proof of payment. This also increased personal property tax revenue collected for the county.

2008 Land Tax SaleOnce the tax season was over, we began fielding numerous questions concerning the 2008 Land Tax Sale to be held Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 at 10 a.m. This annual sale is held the fourth Monday in August in every county in the state, as mandated by Missouri State Statutes. Our August article will provide detailed information concerning the sale, and the first published list will appear in the Daily Guide beginning July 18, with updated lists running each of the next three Fridays. The web site will also provide a link to the daily updated list until the sale date. In light of current national news, we have had many inquiries concerning the sale of “foreclosed” properties. The purpose of the Land Tax Sale is to pay delinquent real estate taxes only and has nothing to do with the delinquency of mortgage payments and the sale of property due to nonpayment of mortgage payments. Neither does the collector’s office have information from banks, mortgage companies, or attorneys representing financial entities concerning the dates and locations of the sale of foreclosed properties. That information is published in the legal sections of local newspapers but is not provided to us.

Recently Retired Military Personnel and County Tax ResponsibilityIf you are retiring from military service and plan to continue living in Pulaski County, this paragraph will provide you with valuable information, especially if your home of record during active duty was another state. Every county in Missouri collects personal property tax every year on vehicles, trailers, boats, motorcycles, ATVs, and livestock. This tax is separate from real estate tax or sales tax paid on a recently purchased vehicle. If your home of record is Pulaski County, Missouri, you are accustomed to filling out the assessment form in January-March and receiving the statement that follows in November. If your home of record during your active duty service was another state, you will not be in the system and will not receive an assessment form or statement. This does not exempt you from tax responsibility, late fees and/or penalties that may be incurred. In order to prevent late fees and penalties, you must visit the assessor’s office to let them know your current address and, depending on the date of your retirement, any personal property you own. This ensures your presence in the system so you will receive an assessment form when they are mailed in January. Your county taxes are always based on where you lived and what you owned Jan. 1 of the tax year. The statements are mailed the first week in November of the tax year and can be paid without penalty by Dec. 31 of the same year. All military personnel who own real estate in Pulaski County must pay county real estate taxes every year, regardless of location as established by the home of record. This statement should arrive with your personal property tax statement, unless your county real estate taxes are paid by an escrow account through your mortgage company. We advise you to call our office in mid to late December to see if your real estate taxes have been paid. Penalties are incurred after Dec. 31 of each tax year on both real estate and personal property taxes. It is our desire to keep you informed and aware of tax procedures, laws and updates in our county and state. If you have questions at any time, do not hesitate to call us at 774-4711. Contact the Pulaski County Collector at the web site or telephone number listed above, by fax at 774-4722, or by mail at:Pulaski County Courthouse301 Historic Rt. 66 E., Ste 110Waynesville, MO 65583

Seems now our County Commissioners are smarter than the United States government who is saying our local population has droped.. I have known this for sometime. Let's see, we have 600 empty homes in our county and the population is up? Go figure! Seems odd they discount this opportunity to investigate it further.. Negativity just rolls off their backs, and opportunity goes right over their heads.

County questions benefit of proposed census reviewFrom the Daily Guidehttp://www.waynesvilledailyguide.com/news/x833723022/County-questions-benefit-of-proposed-census-reviewMembers of the Pulaski County Commission aren’t sure they want to participate in a program offered by the Meramec Regional Planning Commission that’s intended to make sure the upcoming 2010 census correctly counts local residents.“This isn’t our job; it’s the federal government’s job to collect those numbers,” said Commissioner Dennis Thornsberry during Thursday morning’s county commission meeting.In a June 18 letter to all eight county commissions in the Meramec Region, MRPC Assistant Director Bonnie Prigge said she’d been contacted by the Census Bureau regarding a program that allows local governments to propose changes to existing census tracts, block, group and place boundaries.“The Census Bureau had asked each regional planning commission to oversee the review process within its counties; however, there is no funding to cover the cost of that review,” Prigge wrote.Census officials estimate it would take about 40 hours of staff time for the regional planning commission to make the requested adjustments if only a few changes are required. Prigge wrote that the regional planning commission already has two people trained in the computerized GIS mapping technology used by the Census Bureau and estimated the total cost would be about $2,000. That corresponds to a contribution of $250 per county if all eight counties participate and $500 if only four counties see a need to participate.Thornsberry said he’s disillusioned with his experience dealing with the census.“Remember in 2000, it actually showed a decrease in population in the county,” Thornsberry said. “Nobody thought those numbers were accurate, but they just went with it, and the numbers said we were the only county in the area that hadn’t grown.”Commissioner Bill Farnham agreed that the census data reports have unfairly hurt Pulaski County.“I question the accuracy of the census to begin with,” Farnham said. “I’m not trying to be negative, but look at Fort Leonard Wood’s population and the problems they have counting it. We know it’s grown, but they say it’s decreased.”Farnham noted that due to deployments, the Census Bureau’s practice of taking a “snapshot” report of where people were located at a specific date may not reflect the reality of the Pulaski County population. People who live most of the time at Fort Leonard Wood may be elsewhere for temporary duty assignments, may claim residency in another state where they haven’t lived for years, or may be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.“With the military, our population is going up and down like a yo-yo,” Farnham said.Thornsberry said he didn’t think participating in the MRPC proposal to review census boundaries would help.“What’s the advantage?” Thornsberry asked. “I don’t think we want to participate.”Presiding Commissioner Bill Ransdall agreed with Thornsberry’s question but wasn’t sure about his answer.“I think we want to ask that question,” Ransdall said. “We need to determine how many counties that will be because that will determine the cost, and then ask what the advantage is. We can file a protest with the feds, but you did that the last time and all they did was re-run their numbers.”

A very nice lady graced my store with her presence today, Keela Carr, Journey of a Thousand Thanks for our military was in our store today. We donated some shirts for her to wear on her walk form California to Washington DC.. She is visiting the fort hospital today.. She told us how she had been to Walter Reed and was moved by the soldiers there that were injured in the war etc.. She just hapens to be in Pulaski County today on her way to DC..

During the afternoon of June 27, 2008, a Trooper assigned to the Troop I section of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control submitted a statement of probable cause to the Pulaski County Prosecutor requesting a charge of First Degree Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer to answer of the June 10th shooting of Deputy Don Hayden.

A charge was filed and a warrant for First Degree Assault was issued for Rex A. Pennebaker, age 31, of 15798 Craig Lane, Dixon, Mo. Mr. Pennebaker was arrested at the University Hospital by members of the University Police Department and they are guarding him until custody can be turned over to a Pulaski County Deputy. The bond in this case was set by Judge Colin Long at $1,000,000.00 cash only.

A Pulaski County Deputy is driving to Columbia at this time to take custody of Pennebaker and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department will begin a 24 hour a day guard detail on Pennebaker until he is released from the hospital.

Additional charges on Pennebaker are expected and news updates will be completed when possible.

At approximately 3:52am on June 21, 2008, the Waynesville Rural Fire Department was sent to a reported fire at the Grandview Trailer Court in Devils Elbow, Missouri. The firefighters were able to quickly gain control of the fire however they questioned the origin of the fire. A Deputy Sheriff Arson Investigator with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was called out and sent to the scene.The Deputy quickly determined that the fire was suspicious in nature. As his investigation progressed he was able to determine a suspect who was detained for questioning. During the questioning of the suspect he admitted that he had set the fire on purpose.

The suspect was taken to the Pulaski County Jail on a 24 hour hold and a statement of probable cause has been forwarded to the Pulaski County Prosecutor requesting that one count of First Degree Arson be filed on the suspect.

There were no injuries to the firefighters or to the occupant of the structure involved in the fire.

At approximately 5:30am on June 21, 2008 the Pulaski County Communications Center advised the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department of a reported stabbing assault at 25625 Swan Road in rural Pulaski County. Upon the arrival of the first Deputy on the scene it was determined one subject had been stabbed in the neck and back. The victim was transported by the Pulaski County Ambulance District to a hospital.

Information developed at the crime scene led to an alert bulletin being sent to all surrounding police agencies to stop and hold the occupants of the suspect vehicle that had left the crime scene. A short time later the Osage Beach City Police stopped the vehicle and took two suspects into custody. At this time Pulaski County Deputies are headed to Osage Beach to continue the investigation.

Went in there today at 5, wasn't greeted as the gal was busy texting friends.. Went to checkout counter, and when she finally finished her texting, she reluctantly rang up my 60 dollar purchase.. The only words spoken to me the entire time in the store was when I was told the amount of the sale. Real class act she is.. Looked like I had ruined her day going in there. I will buy where they are cheaper from now on...

News ReleaseFirst Degree AssaultPulaski County Sheriff J. B. KingMay 15, 2008 At approximately 5:44pm on May 13, 2008, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a physical disturbance in progress at 15785 Hallmark Lane just outside of the St. Robert City Limits. Upon arrival at the scene the Deputies found one person with blood on them but no apparent injury. Witnesses to the incident told the Deputies that a black male covered in blood had fled the scene. While several Deputies and St. Robert City Police Officers attempted to locate the subject who fled the scene other Deputies obtained details of the assault that had occurred. The first information developed was that the disturbance had been between a brother and sister. A short time later Deputies made contact with a person who told them he had taken a person who was bleeding to a trailer on Hartford Road, which is located in the Mo. 28 area. Several Deputies went to that location and found a person with two knife wounds. The Pulaski County Ambulance Service was called to the scene and the wounded person was taken to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center for treatment. A friend of the wounded person who was living in the trailer was found to have an active warrant and was taken to the St. Robert Police Department and released to them. Later that night a Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Detective went to the Phelps County Hospital to interview the wounded person. As the Detective was interviewing the person the Detective recognized the person and realized that the subject had given the other Deputies a false name. The wounded person was identified as Jamel V. Hampton, age 26, of 2819 Dayton Drive, St. Louis, Missouri. Jamel Hampton had active warrants for resisting arrest and parole violation. When Jamel Hampton was released from the Hospital he was taken into custody and spent the rest of the night in the Pulaski County Jail. The Pulaski County jail staff returned Jamel Hampton to the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections on May 14, 2008. With the identity of Jamel Hampton established it was apparent that the sister had also given a false identification to the Deputies who responded to the Hallmark Lane incident. On May 14, 2008 Deputies from the Sheriff’s Department located Ebony Hampton, age 25, of 15785 Hallmark Lane and arrested her on an active Pulaski County warrant for First Degree Assault. The bond on that case had been set at $50,000.00. At the time of her arrest Ebony Hampton was in possession of several false identifications and several credit devices that did not belong to her. There were a number of prescription medications from the controlled substance list that were in her possession. A series of related investigations involving the credit devices, the prescription drugs and the false identifications are continuing. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department will seek assistance from several other Law Enforcement agencies with these investigations. Deputies will send a statement of probable cause to the Pulaski County Prosecutor for charges related to the stabbing incident. At this time Ebony Hampton remains in the Pulaski County Jail on the First Degree Assault

News ReleaseArrest Armed Robbery –Identification of SuspectsPulaski County Sheriff J. B. KingApril 14, 2008The armed robbery that occurred at 7:20pm on April 12, 2008, at Black’s Market located at the Jct. of Mo. Rt. 7 and I-44 has resulted in the filing of criminal charges against two suspects. Following an intense investigation the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department submitted a statement of probable cause to the Pulaski County Prosecutor. The Prosecutor filed one count of First Degree Armed Robbery and one count of Armed Criminal Action against both suspects.The suspects charged are; Austin L. Croushorn, age 21, of Laquey, Missouri and Joshua A. Trotter, age 23, of Waynesville, Missouri. Judge Colin Long set an appearance bond for both subjects on the charges at $100,000.00 cash. Both suspects are being held in the Pulaski County Jail pending the posting of bond.The charges for which Austin Croushorn and Joshua Trotter were arrested are mere accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of Jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.